He Became Napoleon’S Genius Son [EN]: Chapter 424

(424) Declaring Succession to the Spanish Throne

From the start, there’s only one option.

“The only problem is how to refuse the other side.”

Sipping coffee at Le Procope, a renowned café in Paris, Eugene shrugged.

In truth, Eugene is more familiar with the Boarneh Bank’s main café.

However, after Eugene left for the New World, the Boarneh Cartel expanded so much that the café closed in the meantime.

It would be nice to use the café attached to the outer building of the Orléans Palace, but that place is open to the public.

As a result, he came here, where celebrities gather and it is quiet, and relatively well-kept secret.

Of course, from Jacques Recamier’s point of view, he thinks it’s troublesome when he could just invite him to his house.

Recamier replied, barely sipping his coffee.

“You’re really worrying about nothing. Some are standing at the crossroads of whether to be kicked out of the Bank of France or not.”

“How did that happen, Monsieur Recamier?”

“Well, I wouldn’t say anything if I was kicked out because of my own mistake. But what can I do about my daughter—no, my wife Julie—causing an accident and falling out of favor with the imperial family!”

Suddenly, Eugene put down his coffee cup and raised his eyebrows.

“Could it be, are you having an affair with Chateaubriand?”

“Oh, how did you know? Does Surte report that too? Are you spying on me?”

“No, did you forget? Originally, my mother, the Empress, hosted the best salon in Parisian society. All the rumors in society reach my ears. Still.”

In fact, he just remembers it because it happened in the original history.

Eugene vividly remembers seeing Julie Recamier when she was young.

However, while Julie was wandering around the financial world, the battlefield, and overseas, she emerged as a brilliant flower in society.

You could say she became the most beautiful woman in Paris, captivating countless men and coloring society with romance.

Julie now reigns supreme in Parisian society, a position once held by Josephine or Madame Stahl.

However, Julie’s salon is frequented by aristocrats from the old royalist faction.

The most famous of them is Chateaubriand, a rising literary figure and pro-Bourbon writer.

He is also Cardinal Fesch’s secretary, so he has not yet been exiled.

“The Empress. Yes, Julie refused to be the Empress’s lady-in-waiting! What did she say? She doesn’t like the animals the Empress collects? But that’s just an excuse!”

Suddenly, Recamier trembled.

It was a mistake not to recognize her as a child born out of wedlock.

In fact, if it hadn’t been for the unstable political situation at the end of the old royal family and the Great Revolution, it might have been possible to recognize her as his own child.

However, in an unstable political situation where he didn’t know when he would die, he was tied up in a formal marriage, and as a result, she became an uncontrollable nominal wife.

Eugene smiled as he recalled what Julie had done in the original history.

“Chateaubriand told you not to become the Empress’s lady-in-waiting.”

“That’s right! That crazy royalist writer! He must be kicked out of Paris immediately! How many respectable noblewomen is he seducing!”

“A royalist, a friend I need.”

In fact, Chateaubriand is a bit lacking to be called Julie’s lover.

This is because Julie, in modern terms, manages her fish pond but doesn’t give out much bait.

In short, she hardly ever engages in [bed romance], which salon madams always do in this era.

There are even records that she was a virgin until she was forty years old.

Eugene nodded, imagining Chateaubriand’s anxious face.

“Can you introduce me? He’s the talent I need right now.”

Recamier picked up his coffee cup again.

“I guess you have the mind to wear the crown.”

“It’s also the crown of the Bourbon royal family.”

“But Paris is reluctant to get involved in Spain, Your Majesty. Talleyrand and Fouché are the most reluctant. They recommend you as king, but no troops.”

Eugene shrugged.

“No need to add anything. Because there is already Massena. It is enough to add the Royal Guard.”

In fact, Talleyrand and Fouché are saying that as a check.

However, Eugene agrees with that judgment.

Originally, in the original history, Napoleon poured unlimited resources and troops into Spain, which eventually became the beginning of his downfall.

However, even if I said it like this, I was going to give a word of advice because it would be difficult without France’s support.

At that time, Recamier’s eyes lit up.

“Then, who is the first financier to go to Spain? Is it Collo, the manager of Your Majesty’s Boarneh Bank? Or the Rothschild family?”

“You don’t even think about the competitors of the French Central Bank.”

“Your Majesty didn’t choose those friends. Oh, don’t tell me it’s Barings Bank?”

Eugene smiled subtly.

“If England retreats from Iberia, it might be possible.”

Come to think of it, Barings Bank is going through a difficult time these days.

First of all, with Pitt’s rise to power, the management rights of the East India Company were reversed.

Above all, they are shareholders of the French Central Bank, so wouldn’t they be in a difficult situation since England is fighting France?

Just as Eugene was thinking of sending someone to England soon, Recamier nodded.

“I’ll tell the Empress well. If so, our Recamier Bank will provide the back money for this enthronement.”

“Why don’t you think it’s Collo? Or Rothschild?”

“I know if you bothered to meet me. It seems like Rothschild wants to punish him for getting involved in the Russian coup, and Collo doesn’t have the resources?”

Eugene did not hide the situation from Recamier’s sharp criticism.

“In this Third Anti-French Alliance War, the entire Boarneh Cartel poured a lot of money. The imperial family’s treasury agreed to pay the bills, but additional funding is difficult.”

In fact, he deliberately chose Le Procope to spread this word in Paris.

You can see the bourgeois [middle class] pricking up their ears, pretending not to look at this seat.

You could say it’s a tactic to help Recamier, who is in trouble these days, and at the same time, make many bourgeois interested in investing in Spain.

Suddenly, Recamier put down his coffee cup and lamented.

“Oh, if only our troublemaker Julie hadn’t been dating! I would have received a hefty interest!”

“Do you have any thoughts of divorcing?”

“What do you mean, Your Majesty?”

Eugene narrowed his eyes.

“If you want, I’ll have the property inherited according to the recognition procedure. Your Majesty’s power can do that much. Furthermore, Julie can marry Chateaubriand.”

Even if it’s a rumor that the whole of Paris is whispering, it’s another matter for it to be formalized.

Perhaps he could be suddenly deported on charges of deceiving society.

But what if the Crown Prince, who has returned to the core of power as the victor of Jena, protects him?

“I’ll think about it.”

Recamier is not yet ready to let go of his daughter completely.

Especially if she is a troublemaker daughter.

***

The Empress loves the Malmaison Palace.

“Hoo hoo hoo! So, are you the writer who hates my husband and me so much?”

This place is full of paintings by the Empress’s favorite painters.

In particular, in addition to David, who the Emperor favors, and Gerard, who everyone likes, there are many paintings by Antoine Jean Gros, whom he has favored since Milan.

Antonio Canova’s sculptures line the corridors, and Charles Percier and Pierre Fontaine’s mirror decorations are dazzling.

But the best thing is the rose collection.

The Empress, whose real name is Rose, has planted all the roses and plants known to the world in her garden.

Josephine’s teeth are healthy as she drinks coffee in the flower garden filled with the scent of flowers.

Looking at the Empress, who looks so young that you can’t tell she’s already 44 years old, the 39-year-old writer bowed his head.

“Your Majesty, I think there is some misunderstanding. I am just doing my job as Cardinal Fesch’s secretary.”

“That job is writing about nostalgia for the monarchy?”

“Everyone idealizes the old days, don’t they? Don’t you miss your youth, Your Majesty?”

At Chateaubriand’s words, Josephine snorted.

“I don’t miss it. My ex-husband abused me, and I had to be exiled to Martinique.”

Chateaubriand closed his mouth, and Julie, who is now 30 years old, turned pale.

Although her husband is one of France’s best bankers and the queen of society, she cannot be compared to the Empress.

Especially the Empress who gave birth to the Crown Prince.

Above all, Eugene, her own child, is in a powerful position after the victory at Jena.

If the Empress wants, confiscation of property and expulsion from France may happen in an instant.

“Oh, the coffee is getting cold. Ah, Julie? Here’s my gift. It’s clothes supplied by Louis-Hippolyte Leroy. Did you collaborate with Rose Bertin to make it?”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“You know why I’m giving you a gift even though you rejected my offer to be my lady-in-waiting, right?”

The Empress offered coffee to Julie, who was trembling, and turned her gaze.

“My son needs your lover. What do you say, Chateaubriand? Will you help?”

Chateaubriand rolled his eyes.

He had already experienced how difficult it was to be an exile while living in exile during the revolution.

He doesn’t like the revolutionaries who kicked out the royal family, nor does he like the Bonaparte family who suddenly pretend to be royalty.

But shouldn’t he bow his head a little?

“I don’t know how my meager skills can help Your Majesty.”

“To be exact, you are helping Marie Therese, the legitimate heir of the Bourbon royal family, not my son.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

The Empress, Josephine, picked a rose from the garden and sparkled her eyes.

“Marie Therese will become the Queen of Spain. My son will also aim for the throne as her husband. You have to help with your excellent writing skills. Can you do it?”

Chateaubriand widened his eyes.

Marie Therese, the legitimate heir of the Bourbon royal family.

Of course, daughters cannot become kings in the French royal tradition, which is governed by Salic law [law excluding females from dynastic succession].

However, if it is Iberia, where queens were often born, the story is different.

Helping the Bourbon royal family would save face for the old royalists.

“I will gladly follow you, Your Majesty.”

With this, the old royalist public opinion in Paris began to move for Eugene and Marie.

***

The Tuileries Palace, the hall was filled with the powerful people of Paris.

-Bbam! Bbam Bbam! Bbam Bbam Bbam!

Fouché and Talleyrand looked around as they watched the Royal Guard band play a fanfare.

“Today, all the distinguished guests have come.”

“The five marshals, the cabinet, the Bonaparte family, and the powerful members of the House of Peers have all come. Oh, it looks like the bigwigs of the House of Representatives have also come?”

“Wait, isn’t that Count Fersen? No, even former Queen Marie Antoinette?”

These are not welcome guests for Fouché and Talleyrand, who used to advocate for the execution of the king.

Also, they are not very welcome people to the Bonaparte regime.

But why did Fersen and Antoinette attend?

Suddenly, Napoleon entered, waving his flag.

“Oh, oh, oh. Many precious people have gathered. Hahaha! Now, I will make a major announcement.”

Napoleon is now 38 years old, and he is not yet very overweight.

However, Josephine and Hortense are always nagging him because he is showing signs of gaining weight.

Josephine slapped Napoleon’s hand as he secretly tried to pick up a sweet snack, and Napoleon smacked his lips and looked around.

“An envoy has come from Sweden with a resolution from the House of Peers. The reason is to adopt an heir to the new king. After much discussion, my brother, Joseph, the head of state of Lombardia, will go.”

“Yes? No, that is.”

“Isn’t he the successor to the Swedish throne?”

This is why Fersen came.

Of course, Talleyrand also knew that Sweden needed a successor to the king.

However, he never imagined that Joseph would go to that position.

Just as Joseph bowed his head with a flushed face, Napoleon turned to his eldest younger sister, Eliza, who was at the end of the family.

“Baciocchi, my brother-in-law, will go to the vacant position in Lombardia.”

“General Baciocchi? Oh, is that possible?”

“No objections allowed. Also, to suppress Naples, which is a hotbed of rebellion, Marmont, who is like my brother, will go as the general of the suppression army. Before becoming commander, Marmont will marry my younger sister, Caroline.”

It was not just a family matter, but a declaration that would change the political map of Europe was made one after another.

Even Foreign Minister Talleyrand did not know about this matter.

But it didn’t end here.

“Finally, we need to solve the Spanish problem, right? Eugene!”

Eugene walked to the center of the hall.

-Step, step, step.

Everyone watched Eugene with bated breath.

The conqueror of Egypt in the East, the pioneer of the New World, Nouvelle France [New France], and the victor of Jena.

Now, everyone knows that the Spanish problem depends on Eugene.

But will he really leave the glory of Paris behind and cross the Pyrenees?

“How about it? The rebels and British in Spain, and even the remnants of the Bourbons. Can you handle it?”

Eugene knelt down.